The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-02

enclosed in a zinc lined trunk and taken to
Canada and buried. It is said that the
features were perfectly preserved, except
the eyee. This was the letter which en-
closed the bit of paper corresponding to
the size of the hole in the
velvet and promised If further
proof was required to send the coffin plate
upon the insertion in the New York
Herald, OF these words: "Canada-Seud
P.counSelr' This was done. and under
date of Boston, January 81, 1879, q letter
came, saying the plate was sent from there
to avoid the scrutiny of customs officials
on the Canadian border. The plate was
received and identified. Gen. Jones was
instructed, in case the relatives were ready
to negotiate for the remains, to insert this
personal in the Herald: 'Canada-Will
do business, counsel" This was done at
Judge Hilton's request The reply which
came from Boston on the 18th of Febru.
airy, set forth the terms upon which the
body would be restored. They were as
follows: d. The amount to be paid shall
be 500, 900. ~ The body will be deliver
ed to yourself and Judge Hilton within
twenty-five miles of the city of Montreal,
and no other persons shall be present. 81
The money to be placed in your hands or
under your control, until Judge Hilton is
fully satisfied, when you will deliver it to
my representative. "a Both parties to
maintain forever an unbroken silence in
regard to the transaction.
Judge Hilton refused to agree to the
terms proposed, and further declined TO
negotiate through the medium of per
sonals" Romano was then written to,
Gen. Jones informing him of the oondi-
ton of things. His reply was soon re-
ceived, ordering Mr.. Jones to break OF all
communication with Judge Hilton and
open negotiations with Mrs. Stewart. No
notice was taken of this request, but In
March Judge Hilton made an offer of $25,-
600 for the body. Gen. Jones made the
fact known TO Romaine, who respectfully
but firmly declined. This closed the cor
respondence.
The robbers becoming discouraged, now
offered to sell the body for 500, oee. Mrs.
Stewart was willing and ordered her rep
resentatives to pay the amount They ce-
lsyed the matters until the figure was
reduced TO $4,000 which wac paid.
The conditions of delivery were severe.
The messenger with the money was to
leave New York City at 10 p. m, alone in
a one horse wagon and drive into West
chester county, along a lonely road,
which was indicated on 8 map sent by
the thieves Some time before morning,
if the man was acting in good faith and
was not accompanied or followed by de-
tectives, he would be met and given
further reciions
A young relative of Mrs. Stewart under.
took the hazardous errand. Two or three
times during the night he was certain
that he was closely watched, but
it was 3 O'Clock wheu masked
horsemRn rode up, gave toe signal
agreed on and turned the buggy up e
lonely lane. The strange visitor here left
him, directing him TO drive on. At the
end OF another mile ne became aware that
another wagon was blocking the way. He
paused. A masked man promptly sp-
peared and brought forward bag to his
buggy, saying: Here It's, where's the
money" Where's the proof of identi-
typ asked the messenger, as the bag con-
tanning the mortal remains of A. T.
Stewart was lifted into the buggy. Here, Z"
said the other. holding up an irregular
bit of velvet and opening a bulps-eye
lantern with a click. The piece was COM
pared with bit of paper of the same
shape which the New Yorker had brought
with him to this lonely spot "COme,
hurry up" was the command.
The messenger obeyed by producing the
money, and the robbers retired a. few feet
and counted it by the light of their
lanterns. Then they moved of to their
vehicle, and the messenger of Mrs. Stew
art drove back the way be had come. The
next night freight car went out 10 Gar
den City, containing nothing except =
trunk, and on it sat a man who had
spent the previous night in the
loneliest part of Westchester county.
An empty coffin had been
already deposited in the Cathedral and at
the dead of night, two men transferred the
body to it from the trunk. They theu
placed the coffin in an inaccessible vault
beneath the dome. Ii any one should
ever again touch, unbiddea the ysu'i
which holds the bones of the merchant
millionaire the touch would release g
hidden spring which would shake the
chimes in the tower and send an instan
alarm throughout the town.